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KY Paper Writes Up The Impact Of SNAP Cuts For Kentucky, And It's Going To Be Extremely Bad. [1]

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Date: 2025-07-10

I have a bit of a gripe with the Louisville Courier-Journal. Their latest news article on the impact of SNAP benefits cuts for Kentucky is way too late IMHO. Also, it would be nice if the Courier-Journal would send a few reporters out to the rest of the state to interview all the MAGA lunatics to ask them what they think about their kids going hungry. But it’s a Gannet owned newspaper, so no dice. However, the article does go into the details of how Trump’s SNAP cuts will hurt Kentuckians who depend upon that aid, and it ain’t just some poor black people either. Most of those on SNAP are rural white people and their kids.

I saw that when I taught at one of the rural area high schools in another county next to mine. A lot of poorer white kids were on free school breakfast and lunch programs. And it’s those programs that will be cut with the MAGA Murder Bill.

House Resolution 1, also labeled the "One Big, Beautiful Bill," is a massive piece of legislation that preserves tax cuts passed during Trump's first administration; invests billions in border security and the U.S. military; and makes cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), known commonly as food stamps. The cuts to SNAP — considered the largest in the program's history — will require states to fund portions of the program for the first time, as well as a larger portion of its administrative costs. Additionally, recipients will be expected to fill out more paperwork, a move that has historically led to fewer people receiving assistance. The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy estimates the changes will put 50,000 Kentuckians at risk of losing their benefits, at a time when about 16% of residents are already considered food insecure and the commonwealth is among the 10 hungriest states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Depending on how Kentucky lawmakers respond, a higher number individuals could lose or see a decrease in benefits; some schools might have to discontinue offering free meals to all students; and food banks might have to put stricter restrictions on those who seek their assistance, opponents of the changes say.

Emphasis is mine. You just have to love that part about Kentucky being in the top ten states for “hungriest.” I know shame. I have to deal with it all the time, so I can say without any reservation that Kentucky politicians should be ashamed of that statistic. Too bad the legislature has a Republican supermajority, and they are all like Mitch McConnell.

Here are some more details on present hunger conditions in Kentucky:

In the last two years, Kentucky’s Dare To Care food bank has seen a 48% rise in demand for their services.

The end of those emergency subsidies from the COVID pandemic and the inflation it brought on has been the main driver for the increase of demand at food banks.

There is no way that food banks in Kentucky can make up for those cuts to SNAP.

For the first time in KY, food banks may have to set stricter requirements for those visiting a food bank for assistance.

575,000 Kentuckians are on SNAP.

How the MAGA Murder Bill changes SNAP in KY:

There going for the old “work requirements” bit for SNAP. The previous age range for proving you were working was 18-54 years of age for SNAP benefits. Now, they expanded the age range to 64 years of age. And if you are a parent with kids 14 years old or higher, you have to prove you are working, which the previous SNAP program did not require. Veterans and the homeless also have to prove they are working too.

The last time Kentucky had work requirements imposed was when Bevin was governor in 2019. The program in that year threw 30,000 Kentuckians off of SNAP, which was the whole purpose of those changes.

And you got to love this. If you are unemployed for more than 3 months over a three year period, you lose SNAP benefits!

The MAGA Murder Bill also says that the state of Kentucky has to raise what it kicks into SNAP from 5% to 15%. This means Kentucky will have to pony up another $250 million to the program. And there is no way that the Kentucky legislature will come up with that kind of money.

And finally, we get to the schools. Those free breakfast and lunches are covered by a program called Community Eligibility Program or CEP. It’s provided by the federal government to cover kids who are on SNAP. With less kids who qualify for SNAP, there will be less money for CEP. And 1,100 high schools in Kentucky participate in CEP.

How much did Trump win Kentucky by? Approximately 30% points. And most of those voters were in the rural parts of the state.

Guess which counties have the highest number of people on SNAP? Why, they are in the eastern part of Kentucky in the 5th Congressional District! The MOST REPUBLICAN PART OF KENTUCKY!

Congressman Hal Rogers of the 5th was more than happy to vote for the MAGA Murder Bill. Rogers is in his late eighties, so I bet after he wins in 2026 and the SNAP cuts hit his constituents in 2027, he will find some nice corporate board to sit on after 2028 while he awaits the Grim Reaper.

I would love it if the Courier-Journal or others went back to this dipshit Bell County school principal who voted for Trump because “He was going to put America first,” and now the idiot is having some issue with Trump wanting to eliminate the Department of Education:

Twenty eight years as a teacher, and she hasn’t learned a damn thing. Approximately 35.7% of Bell County residents are on SNAP. A lot of her kids are going to go hungry because she couldn’t be bothered to pull her head out of her conservative ass.

Yes, she is one of those 5th Congressional District voters.

She’s one of the many reasons I despair for Kentucky. We are going to be hurt badly by Trump and the Republicans in the next few years, but I doubt people like her will ever put two and two together.

NOTE: I have noticed that others are pointing out what the cuts will mean to grocery stores. It’s in the article, but SNAP brings in 1.3 billion dollars to Kentucky’s economy because of the money spent on groceries. Yes, so those rural grocery stores will get hit as well.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/10/2332608/-KY-Paper-Writes-Up-The-Impact-Of-SNAP-Cuts-For-Kentucky-And-It-s-Going-To-Be-Extremely-Bad?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web

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